Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-10

ands for messengers of love from the be-
niicent Quetzacoatl
1t was long after the reign of this deity
that the order of mobiles called "the
Eagles" whose patron was the sun, was
established in Mexico. | think it was dur
ing the reign Of Tizoc, seventh King of
Mexico, who assembled the throne about
1880. 1t was at this time that the horri-
bic sacrifcial stone came into use
THE CUAUHXICALLI DE TIzoc,
The word meaning "cuauhtli" (eagle),
from the order aforesaid, and "xicalli"
drinking cup. Upon this rock, in GER
tain religious festivals, the Mexicans sac
riiced human victim, to whom they gave
the name of Messenger to the SUM-"
That primitive historian, Father Duran,
tells us all about it. He says that at the
sound of musical instruments they brought
forth an Indian from among the prisoners
taken in war. He was surrounded by il
lustrious noblemen, who painted his limbs
red, with white stripes. Half his face was
painted red, a white plume was glued into
his hair, and on his back was little bum
die which held few eagles feathers,
Jumps of ochre, pieces of gypsum, candle
wood and parchments. In one hand he
carried Il walking-stick, very gay with
knots and ties Of leather and feathers of
all colors; in the other he bore a shield,
with five small bundles of cotton on it.
They led him to the foot of the stair
case ascending to the temple, and there in
loud voice, so that all could hear, they
said to him: Sir, that which we entreat
thee is, that thou dost go before our God,
/ the Sun, and that on eur behalf thou dost
! salute him, and that thou dost tell him
that his sons and principal mobiles who re-
main here supplicate him to remember
them, and that from his throne he doth
favor them, and receive this small present
which they send him; and do thou give him
this cane for walking, and this shield for
defense, and the other things that thou
| Dearest in that little bundle"
THE INDIAN HEARING THIS EMBASSY
Answered what he pleased. Then they I'M
tied him and led him very slowly up the
great staircase toward the temple, making
much delay at each step to give him fresh
instructions. Finally, arrived at the sum-
nit, they placed him upon the
rock Cuauhxicalli, where he was
compelled to shout his message
to the sun. Then four ministers
Of the sacrifice assembled the four
steps to the rock, removed the cane, the
| shield and the little bundle which the vic
tim bore. They seized him by the hands
and feet and held him fast, while the high
priest came and cut the victims throat, at
the same time commanding him to 90 with
| his message to the true Sun and another
| life. The blood drained into the bowl in
| tho Of thn ,onl-
channel cut at the side in front of the
chamber wherein was kept the golden i'm
age of the sum- and the sculptured sun on
the face of the rock was drenched in blood.
When blood ceased to flow the High
Priest opened the captive's breast with his
knife Of obsidian, or volcanic glass, and
plucked out the smoking heart, which he
presented with high hand to the sun, hold
ing it aloft till it had ceased to drip and
became cold
Outlined in carving u pom the sides OF
this rock is the belief of those early saw
ages respecting the establishment of sacri-
fees. 1t represents the astronomical strug-
gle between Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca,
in which the former is the attacking war
rior and the latter the defending gladiator
Under this theory the conqueror, Tizoc ar
rogated to himself the place of the
warrior, and the conquered ma
tions that of the captive. The fig
ure of Quetzalcoatl wears the sacred mask,
that part of the face uncovered and the
hands and feet anointed with the black
ointment Of the priests and gods. On his
head are the plumes of the quetzdl, and
numerous serpents of the coat species are
turned around him. In one hand he car
ries a sword of obsidian, and in the other a
shield with a star upon it.
FANNIE +. WARD.